Slide notes:Every society needs to be policed. The Office of the Inspector General, or OIG, works to protect the integrity of HHS programs. It performs nationwide audits and investigations, and it reports any abuses, fraud, or waste to the Office of the Secretary and to Congress. They also recommend corrections. An important part of the OIGs work is its ongoing efforts to stop Medicare and Medicaid fraud. It even posts an online list of Most-Wanted Health Care Fugitives. The list includes the names and photos of individuals who received millions of dollars in false Medicaid and Medicare claims, then escaped prosecution. Both health care providers and the public are encouraged to help the OIG identify fraud and abuse. 20